Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Issues Associated With Dairy Farming
In order to compliment and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories to make dairy farming sustainable, scientific and profitable, Government of India has been implementing following Central and Centrally sponsored schemes:-
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission 
- National Programme for Dairy Development 
- Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund 
- Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities 
- Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme 
- National Livestock Mission 
- Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund 
- Following steps have been undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to compensate the dairy farmers for the duress they faced during the lockdowns:
- A new component to provide one time support in the form of Interest subvention on working capital loans was introduced for the financial year 2020-21 under ongoing scheme Support to State Dairy Cooperative & Farmers Producers Organization scheme .
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing a Central Sector scheme for dairy development Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund  to modernize the milk and milk products processing plants and machinery.
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing National Programme for Dairy Development with the objective to create dairy infrastructure for procurement, processing and marketing of milk and milk products.
- Kisan Credit Card- For the first time the KCC Scheme has also been extended for all farmers involved in animal husbandry sector including dairy farming.
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission  with the aim of development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers.
- Government of India is also implementing Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund  worth Rs. 15000 crore to facilitate incentivisation of investments in establishment of dairy processing and value addition infrastructure.
- Following steps have been undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying for installation of breeding infrastructure in rural areas and genetic upgradation of bovine population:-
- Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme  has been initiated for delivery of free of cost quality artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep in 604 districts with less than 50% AI coverage. Under the programme, as against a target for coverage of 6.04 crore animals, as on date 2.96 Crore animals have been inseminated and 1.94 crore farmers have been benefitted.
- Induction of Multi Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India  to make available trained manpower for conducting artificial insemination services at the farmers doorstep in rural areas covering all States and Union Territories. As on date 12196 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped to deliver breeding inputs at farmers’ doorstep.
A sum of Rs. 2316.14 crore has been released to all the States/UTs under Rashtriya Gokul Mission during the last 5 years and current financial year till date.
- Following steps have been undertaken by Government of India to make institutional credit available to dairy farmers:-
i) Kissan Credit Card  - Government has extended KCC facility to Animal Husbandry farmers including farmers for their working capital requirements wherein farmers either individual or joint borrower, Joint Liability Groups or Self Help Groups including tenant farmers having owned/rented/leased sheds are eligible for getting benefits under the scheme.
- Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund  – under the scheme 3% interest subvention is made available to the beneficiaries availing credit under AHIDF.
- One of the components of the sub scheme Rashtriya Gokul Mission is to promote establishment of breed multiplication farm on hub and spoke model. Under the scheme 50% capital subsidy is available for eligible entrepreneurs (Individual/SHGs/ FCO/ FPO/JLGs and section 8 companies.
- Support to State Dairy Cooperative & Farmers Producers Organization : under the scheme one time support in the form of Interest subvention on working capital loans has been introduced from the financial year 2020-21.
- Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund - This scheme is being implemented with the objective of Creation/ strengthening of Milk Processing, Value addition & chilling facilities. Under the scheme, NABARD raises the fund from market and disburse loan to dairy cooperatives with 2.5% interest subvention through National Dairy Development Board and National Cooperative Development Corporation . Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying provides 2.5% interest subvention to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development .
- to  Benefits of the schemes being implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and dairying have been accruing to more than 8 crore dairy farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity, milk procurement, processing and marketing including modern technology. There is no reported information available with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying regarding unavailability of power in many rural areas resulting in dairy farmers not having access to modern technology.
This information was given by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.